SMSC & British values

Promoting British values and preparing our students for life in modern Britain

Schools have always promoted British Values and the following documents have always enabled schools to develop them for their communities:

The Human Rights Act 1998

The Data Protection Act 1998

Freedom of Information Act 2000

The Equality Act 2010

However, in its Prevent Strategy of 2011 the government defined specific British values which schools now must demonstrate and evidence of this is monitored by Ofsted and SIAMS

From 1 July 2015 the Prevent duty became law. This is a duty on all schools and registered early years providers to have due regard to preventing people being drawn into terrorism

St Martin-in-the-Fields High School for Girls is committed to serving our community. We recognise the multi-cultural, multi faith and ever-changing nature of the United Kingdom. We also understand the vital role we have in ensuring that groups or individuals within the school are not subjected to intimidation or radicalisation by those wishing to unduly, or illegally, influence them.

We are a school community that is culturally rich. We embrace and value our students of all faiths, and none, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status. St Martin's is dedicated to preparing students for their adult life beyond the formal examined curriculum and ensuring that it promotes and reinforces British values to all its students.

The Government emphasises that schools are required to ensure that key "British Values" are taught in all UK schools. Click here to read Guidance on promoting British values in school.

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy. For further information on how we safeguard out students, see our extremism and radicalisation policy and click here to read the Home Office Prevent duty guidance.

The five British Values are:

Democracy

The rule of law

Individual liberty

Mutual respect

Tolerance of those of different faiths and beliefs

At St Martin's, students will encounter these principles throughout everyday school life. Underpinning all we do through our curriculum, well-being programme and drop down days are our four Christian values: Service, Compassion, Justice and Perseverance. Click here to read the DfE guidance on Promoting Fundamental British Values as part of SMSC in school.

Click here to read some of the examples that demonstrate the many ways we seek to embed British values into our school.